Tragedy of Ocean Oil Spills

[tenni]

I tried to find a thread that has previously dealt with the oil spill in the US Gulf but I couldn't locate it. In the past few days, images are beginning to appear on tv about the consequences of this oil spill. It is not just a tragedy for the US but there is a likelihood that it will impact wildlife that migrates in North America. Off the coast of Newfoundland a deep sea drilling may begin soon by Chevron. This is twice as deep as the Gulf oil well that is spewing out oil into the Gulf. Talks are starting and maybe even permission has already been granted to drill wells in the Arctic (US and Canada). What is wrong with us? The Arctic if a very fragile ecosystem and the consequences of such an oil spill in the Arctic would become disaterous not just for the Arctic but all of the world.

What are your thoughts about oil wells in the oceans of the world?

[FalconAngel]

There is only so deep that we can currently drill, safely; and that is assuming that ALL safety protocols are being followed.

In this case, BP has been unrepentant about claiming that it is not their fault, even though, every piece of evidence shows that they did not follow the correct safety protocols.

This spill has already affected the northern Gulf coast and the west coast of Florida. It is projected to pass through the Keys and into the Atlantic, where the Gulf Stream current will carry it all the way up the Eastern seaboard. This will result in severe, possibly critical, damage to the environment and many different species of animals as well as severe harm to the local economies that are going to suffer.

[richarddennis]

The greed of the drill baby drill zealots show no bounds.

The bottom line $ is all these rascal covet.

Nature, to them is something to be overcome.

Meanwhile, tragic accidents like the recent Gulf oil mess has at least caught the attention of the latest administration and moratoriums are now favored over the drill at all cost zealots.

btw, there is a super large shale oil reserve in North Dakota that is just about ready to get tapped. The locals know it's there and big interest are rapidly becoming North Dakotan as this new, larger than Saudi Arabia oil field has BIG prospects.

So big in fact, it will dwarf ALL off shore drilling combined!

[Hephaestion]

Wasn't the oil rig owned by someone else and the operating company another firm also each with their own specialisms and responsibilities. For the information I have all that BP owned was the drilling rights and therefore employed the two other companies to extract the oil.

Technically it might be said that it is BP's responsibility to oversee things but one should remember that each operation / site is a unique foray into the unknown with attempts to minmise risk. Things can go wrong and they did. That is the price of dependancy on oil and an ever greedy world. How would the USA with its vast distances and mobile culture survive in a situation where there was an irreversible oil shortage? We are at peak oil now despite the promises of new sites - e.g. parts of the previously inaccessible Gulf of Mexico.

BP are wrong to trumpet dividends for their shareholders at this moment in time whilst haggling over compensation. However, there are market forces which are scalping their stock on the market and prehaps they thought it a necessary stance.

Meanwhile nature endures the march of technology

[TwylaTwobits]

The incident in the Gulf is one of the largest in history and it's impact is still uncertain as Hurricane Season looms. Not to mention that it is projected to come around Florida and up the East coast. But to say that drilling for oil in the ocean is something we should stop is the equivalent of putting our heads in the sand. What we need to do is find more renewable resources and stop relying so much on oil and coal. Until then there is a need that must be met, it's not a want, it's a need; and until the dependence on oil is reduced we have no choice but to attempt to drill wherever there is oil. Deep sea or on land, it's what we have to do to continue to survive in this modern world.

[darkeyes]

Wasn't the oil rig owned by someone else and the operating company another firm also each with their own specialisms and responsibilities. For the information I have all that BP owned was the drilling rights and therefore employed the two other companies to extract the oil.

Technically it might be said that it is BP's responsibility to oversee things but one should remember that each operation / site is a unique foray into the unknown with attempts to minmise risk. Things can go wrong and they did. That is the price of dependancy on oil and an ever greedy world. How would the USA with its vast distances and mobile culture survive in a situation where there was an irreversible oil shortage? We are at peak oil now despite the promises of new sites - e.g. parts of the previously inaccessible Gulf of Mexico.

BP are wrong to trumpet dividends for their shareholders at this moment in time whilst haggling over compensation. However, there are market forces which are scalping their stock on the market and prehaps they thought it a necessary stance.

Meanwhile nature endures the march of technology

Not technically responsible Heph but responsible... it was up to them to ensure that their contractors followed safety protocols to the letter.. the rig was operated by them on behalf of BP.. the contractors bear their share of resposibility and no doubt in time they will pay for that just as BP had better..but the ultimate responsibility is the company in whose name the contractors operated...

[Hephaestion]

Darkeyes..

Agreed. The 'technically responsible' means entirely that - they ARE responsible in that they should have maintained control over what the American subcontractors were doing. To be fair they have accepted liablity. However I am not so sure that the American contribution to the problem isn't being quietly forgotten.

In case it does not come across I am heartborken at the damage to the ecosystem and the wildlife (I adore pelicans).

[darkeyes]

Darkeyes..


*wondas if me has upset the luffly Heph... usin me Sunday name indeed...*;)

[FalconAngel]

What BP does not want you to see. I am surprised that the Republican (drill, baby, drill) propaganda machine, Faux news, actually aired this. But I am glad that it is out there for all to see.

http://www.care2.com/causes/environment/blog/what-bp-doesn-t-want-you-to-see-video/

[tenni]

“Just about everyone on the planet, one way or another,” will feel the impact of this spill, argued Sylvia Earle, the National Geographic Society’s explorer in residence and former chief scientist at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

[TwylaTwobits]

Yes, Tenni. Environmental disasters in areas tend to spread their effects no matter how hard people try to minimize the impact. Just look at when the volcano erupted in Iceland and how it disrupted air travel to and from Europe. All around us there are natural disasters happening and accidents like the oil rig in the gulf do not help in the least. I certainly hope that BP is made to pay for the damages to the ecology and the economy of the region becuase the US still has people living in temporary FEMA trailers after Katrina.

[Hephaestion]

Twyla ".......I certainly hope that BP is made to pay for the damages to the ecology and the economy of the region becuase the US still has people living in temporary FEMA trailers after Katrina....."

Not biting you Twyla. Money alone is a very poor substitute for the damage done. That is an accountant's simple answer. How long will it take to recover this region? Likely it will measure in years.

Rather than money alone perhaps there should be a demand for some actual testicles in the process, these from each of the management groups of the companies involved.

.

[Hephaestion]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dun3iba2QfM

Falcon - the link posted does not access the video (in London UK at least). The address above takes one directly to the YouTube site where it may be seen. Please tell us if the video differs from what you posted.

As far as Can be determined the UK have been shown the great majority of the pictures showing appalling casualties on the news broadcasts even though the title of the article is "What BP do not want you to see".

H.

[FalconAngel]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dun3iba2QfM

Falcon - the link posted does not access the video (in London UK at least). The address above takes one directly to the YouTube site where it may be seen. Please tell us if the video differs from what you posted.

As far as Can be determined the UK have been shown the great majority of the pictures showing appalling casualties on the news broadcasts even though the title of the article is "What BP do not want you to see".

H.

It gave me a little trouble too, until I restarted the page, but the Youtube link is the same video, so it's all good.